Pole structure for suspended furniture



m 7 Kg 3 Feb. 7, 1967 BLODEE 3,302,799

POLE STRUCTURE FOR SUSPENDED FURNITURE Filed March 29, 1965 2Sheets-Sheet 1 L L 34 Z1 23 J2 J0 Z;

I NVENTOR. 1 0 5109/55 m ATTORNEYS Feb. 7, BLQDEE POLE STRUCTURE FORSUSPENDED FURNITURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 29, 1965 ATTORNEYSUnited States Patent 3,302,79a Poms srnucrunn son snsrnnnnn rnanrrbnnLeif Elodee, Holland, Mich, assignor t0 Herman Miller,

This invention relates to floor mounted, pole type support assemblies,especially floor-to-ceiling support and display apparatus for mountingservice units such as desks, bookshelves, storage cabinets, filecabinets and the like, and more particularly relates to an improvedfloor-toceiling post assembly with excellent stability and versatility,and at far less cost than that previously known.

This invention is an improvement on the structure in United StatesPatent No. 3,043,642, assigned to the assignee herein.

Support structures of the type described and claimed in the above patentenable a tremendous variety of floorto-ceiling assemblies to be formed,to thereby suspend service units in conveniently accessible conditionwhile using the space in optimum manner.

However, certain disadvantages were noted in these prior assemblies. Onedisadvantage is the difiiculty of accommodating service units withelectricity without either having the electrical wires dangling valongside the posts, or alternatively, putting the wires in a looselycontained relation inside the channels of the post and therefore,subject to damage when the mounting connectors are inserted. Anotherdisadvantage is the high cost of the structure when stability andstrength are properly considered as design factors. Of course, if justt-hin wall tubing is employed, cost can be minimized, but this is notproperly employed for suspending heavy units such as desks, beds,several book shelves, or other heavy equipment.

Also, minor length adjustments to accommodate small variations inceiling height are made with prior units in vertical step by stepamounts, rather than gradually varying amounts, so that the compressionspring which forces the ceiling pad against the ceiling may or may notbe at optimum compression. Then too, providing cross ties between thevertical posts to further stabilize the assembly normally necessitatedspecial expensive, and often unattractive connectors.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improvedfloor-to-ceiling support post assembly that has excellent strength,stability and aesthetic appeal while also being substantially lesscostly than prior units. The structure moreover has excellent sturdinesseven in the foot and leg portions due to its unique cross-sectionalconfiguration.

Another object of this invention is to provide a floor to-ceiling postassembly that accommodates electrical wiring in a generally hidden,protected condition, while enabling the wire to initially be fed throughthe unit in a simple manner.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improvedfloor-to-ceiling structural post assembly achieving excellent rigidityas well as operational versatility, with the structure having a strongstable telescopically adjusting connection allowing variable heightadjustment in gradual manner.

The components of the structure have extruded crosssectionalconfigurations enabling multiple use thereof. More particularly, thesame stock is useful for the basic post elements and the cross tieelements. The cross section of the telescopically interfitting bottomleg achieves improved strength, while also allowing more secureanchoring thereof in the post.

These and several other objects of this invention will become apparentupon studying the following specification in conjunction with thedrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational fragmentary view of a pair of the novel postsinterconnected by cross ties to show a simple form of the assembly;

FIG. 2 is a sectional View through one of the posts and legs, taken onplane 11-11 of FIG. 1, but prior to securement of the leg to the post;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, elevational view of the base portionof one of the post assemblies;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on plane IV-IV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the bottom end of the post and legassembly taken on plane VV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the post and connected cross tie, taken onplane VIVI of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the assembly in FIG. 6, taken on planeVIIVII;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the upper end of the post assembly, takenon plane VIIIVIll of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken on plane IX-IX of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a perspective end view of a portion of the post and a sectionof electrical wire showing insertion thereof;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view similar to that in FIG. 2, but showing theconnection being made between the post and the leg when secured;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of one of the ceiling contacting plugs;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view of a wall connector of theassembly; and

FIG. 14 is a sectional view of a modified wall pole or post.

Referring now spectifically to the drawings, the assembly 10 illustratedin FIG. 1 is representative of a large number of adjacent, verticallyelongated, and horizontally spaced posts, cooperatively forming asupport system. The construction can assume a variety of arrangements asillustrated in the several drawings in United States Patent No.3,043,642. Since the basic general arrangement is old, only theimprovement features are particularly disclosed and claimed herein forpurposes of brevity and clarity. The assembly 16 is shown to include afirst vertical post assembly 12, a second vertical post assembly a pairof horizontal, vertically spaced post connecting cross tie devices 14and 14', and a wall connector tie device 15 attached to a wall 17.

Each post assembly 12 includes the main post 16, a ceiling contactingplug unit 18 on the upper end, and a floor contacting leg and foot unit20.

Each post 16 is vertically elongated, having a cross section generallyrectangular in dimension, with the sides being a pair of spaced parallelpanels 22 and 24 interconnected by a pair of spaced transversevertically extending web walls 26 and 28. These webs are spaced inwardlyfrom the lateral edges of panels 22 and 24. Adjacent these panel edgesare two pairs of cooperative flanges 3t? and 32 on one side, and 34 and316 on the opposite side. These form a pair of slots 38 and 40,respectively therebetween. Each slot leads into a channel type passage44 and 46. These passages receive anchor clips behind the flanges forsecuring connecting means for service units between the posts. Theseflanges are recessed slightly from the edges of the panels to provide amore secure connection for the units mounted thereto as explained in theprevious patent identified above. These elements of the post are allintegrally interconnected. The post is preferably an aluminum extrusion.

Each of the walls or cross webs .26 and 28 has a cen tral portion Whichis thickened and offset toward the opposite web. The thickened portionis hollow. Firstly, these form a pair of guide tracks 5t) and 52 whichextend e? the length of the central passage 54 into which they extend.They form guide means for the telescopically interfitted foot element66. Also, the hollow nature of these offset portions form oblongconduits 62 and 64- extending therethrough to form wire receivinggrooves for the electrical wires 66 (FIG. 2). These wire grooves eachhave an open slot, i.e. into channels 41 and 46. This enables the wireto be fed down through the groove with maximum convenience andaccessibility. Yet, since the slots are narrower than the width of thegroove, the wire cannot fall into the channel but is retained neatly inthis tightly held condition.

Fitted within central passage 54 at its lower end is the foot and legassembly 20. More specifically, the upper end portion of leg 60 istelescopically slidably received in this passage. The leg is anextrusion of aluminum. It has a particular cross-sectional configurationwhich provides excellent strength. That is, it has four corner portionswhich project into the four corners of passage 54 astraddle tracks 50and 52, to somewhat resemble an I beam in structure. Its center 72 ishollow. An elongated opening along one side of the hollow center forms aslot 77 facing one track 52. The opposite side has a thin connecting web70 adjacent the hollow center 72.

Into this hollow center, at the lower end of leg 60, is threadablyengaged a steel stud 76 that has foot pad 78 mounted on the lower endthereof. A pair of nuts 80 and 82 on the stud enable threaded adjustmentof the stud with respect to leg 60. This adjustment of the threadedelement with respect to the leg provides minor adjustment of the lengthof the unit.

Major adjustment is achieved by relative telescoping sliding of leg 60with respect to post 16. The leg is secured in a particular position inthe post by a plurality, here two, of screws 84 and 86 (FIG. 3). Theseextend through the offset portion 52 of web 28, through opening slot 77in leg 60, and are threadably engaged with a pair of orificed fasteners90 and 92 behind the post flanges (FIG. 11). The heads of these screwsmay be countersunk to keep wire conduit 64 completely free of the screws(see FIG. 11). Thereby, after the units are assembled, the wire can beinserted without interference from the screws.

Screws 84 and 86 are longer than the width of leg 60 so that theypuncture an opening through web 70 (FIGS. and 11). Thus, not only do thescrews draw leg 60 tightly against track 52 (from the initial positionin FIG. 2 to the tightened position in FIG. 11) by the use of thefasteners, but also the screws puncture this web to rigidify the entireassembly more effectively when attached. Since this web is aluminum, andthe screws are steel, this puncture can be made without previouslydrilling open- 1ngs.

At the top of the post assembly is the ceiling contacting cap or plugsubassembly 18. This subassembly, as shown in FIGS. 6, 8 and 9, includesa first, inverted, generally U-shaped member 100, and a second upright,generally U-shaped member 102 inside the parallel legs of member 100.Member 1% has its pair of parallel straddling vertical legs connected bya horizontal cross piece or cross leg 104 therebetween to integrate theunit. Element 102, also generally U-shaped, has a cross piece 166 at itsbottom. Its pair of parallel legs are positioned between the legs of thefirst member. Both are sections of an extrusion, and therefore, can beinexpensively formed. Both pairs of legs of these two members arevertically oriented, with those of member 102 being normal to those ofmember 1041 as shown in FIG. 12. The parallel legs of member 100 fitastraddle tracks 50 and 52 when this unit is telescopically inserted asshown in FIGS. 6 and 8. These two members, when in engagement with eachother, are biased away from each other by a compression coil spring 110that extends vertically between the cross legs of both members. Aretention pin 112 extends between the legs of member 100 and beneath thebottom surface of mem- A} ber 1W2 to retain these two members inengagement with each other in a biased condition.

The upper edges of the legs of member 102 have horizontally extendingside flanges 114 which extend the width of the legs of member 100 andproject over tracks 52 and 54. These flanges limit insertion of the plugsubassembly down into passage 54 in the center of the post.

Mounting of each post assembly 12 or 12 is achieved by connection of leg60 with foot element 78 using stud 76. Then this leg is insertedtelescopically into the bottom end of the post, specifically intopassage 54. The leg is anchored by tightening screws 84 and 86 to securefasteners and 92.

These elements are adjusted to obtain the desired vertical length of thepost needed for the specific ceiling height. Then, the resilient pad 111on the upper end of the ceiling contacting plug is placed into contactwith the ceiling and the post pushed upwardly to compress compressionspring 110 further by forcing element down inside the post further. Thisforces it toward element 102 which is anchored in its fixed position bycontact of its flanges 114 against tracks 52 and 54 (FIG. 9). The postis held in this compressive state by the spring. Instead of theresilient pad 111 on the upper end of the unit, an opening may bedrilled through cross leg 104 of member 100 to secure this element tothe ceiling by a screw.

When a plurality of the posts are mounted as illustrated in FIG. 1, itis often desirable to secure short cross ties 14 and 14 between them formaximum stability. These cross ties have a cross-sectional configurationexactly like that shown for the post members themselves. They are formedby cutting off sections of the basic extrusion used for the posts. Thus,their cross section looks exactly like that shown in FIG. 10. Referringto FIGS. 6 and 7, it will be noted that the cross ties 14 and 14 haveconnectors (see also FIG. 1) which are normally hidden inside the endsof the cross tie sleeves and which secure both ends of the cross tie tothe posts. These connectors are identical in cross-sectionalconfiguration to the leg elements 60, and merely are secured to the postin a slightly modified manner. That is, the same extrusions as are usedfor legs 60 are used for these connectors. The cross tie outer elementis secured to the connectors in exactly the same manner as that shown inFIGS. 3 and 5 with respect to securing of the post to the leg. The sametype of set screws and fasteners are used as those shown. Therefore,this figure is not repeated to illustrate this again.

The securement of each end of the connector to the vertical posts isslightly different, however. This is achieved by extending a cross pintransversely of elements 120 through a drilled opening. Then, a machinescrew 132 is placed through an opening in this pin and extended intochannel 44 where it is connected to a typical fastener 136 behindconnecting flanges 30 and 32.

In making these connections, therefore, the individual connectorelements 120 are first secured to the vertical posts using screws 132 inthe manner just mentioned, and then the section of sleeve which has anidentical cross section to the vertical post members are inserted overthese connectors in a manner shown in FIG. 1. They are attached bytightening the screws equivalent to those shown in FIG. 5 to bind theassembly together.

Tie elements may also in some instances be employed to bind the posts toa wall instead of or in addition to connecting two posts together.Referring to FIG, 1, the wall connector tie device 15 is attached at oneend to wall 17 and at the other end to one of the post assemblies 12.Attachment is made by connector plugs 120' and 120 which are similar toconnector 120 and are inserted and secured in opposite ends of sleeve121. The connection of connector 120 is exactly like that previouslydescribed with respect to element 120. The connection of element 120 islike that shown in FIG. 13. That is, element 120" is fastened insidesleeve 121 (which is identical to a portion of either post) by a screw150 threaded into a fastener 152. It is secured to the wall 17 by a Woodscrew 156 extending through a transverse pin 130' like that at 130 inFIG. 7.

By the use of these interchangeable extrusion portions, it can bereadily realized that the total expense of the construction is far lessthan that previously necessary. Also, the U-shaped members forming thetop end plug, since comprising segments of an extruded sectioninterfitted with each other, are far less expensive than the structurepreviously used. The particular features noted above enable aluminum tobe the basic stock material for the extrusions, and yet, due to thepeculiar and advantageous cross-sectional configurations employed foreach element, the over-all assembly has tremendous rigidity andsturdiness, enabling heavy service units to be mounted thereon andenabling it to assume substantial loads without difiiculty. The severalfeatures noted cooperatively achieve substantial strength for supportingunits of various types and, even though each individual feature notedabove has distinct individual advantages, the entire assembly doesachieve a cooperative function in an improved manner over that type ofstructure known previously.

POST MODIFICATION In some instances, a modified post construction 160(FIG. 14) can be employed, particularly as a wall abutting pole. Thisunit is like one edge portion of the first post, having elongatedopposite, parallel, spaced side walls 22a and 24a interconnectedintegrally by a trans verse elongated web wall 28a. The side walls haveintegral flanges 34a and 36a recessed inwardly from the outer walledges, and project toward each other astraddle an elongated slot 400.Again, the central portion of web 28a is hollow to form a wire conduit64a. The web is not reduced in thickness on opposite sides of the hollowcentral area since no tracks are needed for an insert connector.

The wall abutting edge of the post includes ribs 161 and 163 which areintegral extensions of walls 22a and 24a, to form an intermediate recess165 to insure proper seating against the wall 170. Attachment to thewall is by wood screws 167.

It is conceivable that certain minor variations in construction could beemployed on the apparatus shown, within the concept presented.Therefore, the invention is intended to be limited only by the scope ofthe appended claims and the reasonably equivalent structures to thosedefined therein,

I claim:

1. A floor-to-ceiling support post for mounting service units in a room,comprising: an elongated vertical post formed of a pair of spacedparallel panels and a pair of continuous vertical connecting cross websbetween and integral with said panels, spaced from the lateral edges ofsaid panels, forming three, adjacent, in-line, elongated passagestherethrough, including a central passage and a pair of outer,straddling channel passages; said cross webs being in common with saidcentral passage and said channel passages, and each having an elongatedportion protruding into said central passage, forming a pair of oppositetracks projecting toward each other; a ceiling abutting cap on one endof said post, and a leg and foot assembly at the opposite end of saidpost; the leg of said leg and foot assembly being telescopicallyreceived in said central passage and having track receiving grooves onopposite sides thereof interfitting with said tracks; and said tracksbeing hollow, forming electrical wire receiving groove means extendingtherethrough to receive and retain wiring in a concealed protectionposition.

2. A floor-to-ceiling support post assembly for mounting service unitscomprising: an elongated vertical post formed of a pair of spacedparallel panels and a pair of continuous vertical connecting cross websbetween and integral with said panels spaced from their lateral edges; apassage between said panels and webs; mounting means on the ends of saidpanels for mounting service units thereon; said webs having enlarged,offset, elongated portions extending toward each other into said passageand forming track means; a ceiling abutting cap at the top of said post,extending down into said passage and biased therefrom; and a leg andfoot assembly at the bottom of said post; said leg being telescopicallyreceived in said passage and having track receiving grooves on oppositesides thereof facing said webs.

3. The assembly in claim 2 wherein said leg has a hollow center andthreadably receives in said center a threaded stud to which said foot isattached.

4. The assembly in claim 2 wherein said leg is anchored in said post bya plurality of screws extending through a web of said post into saidleg, and a plurality of fasteners are in said leg attached to saidscrews.

5. The assembly in claim 4 wherein said leg has an elongated opening onone side into said hollow center, and a cross web on the other side; andsaid screws extend through said opening into said fasteners, and alsothrough punctured orifices in said cross web.

6. The assembly in claim 2 wherein said post web tracks are hollow,forming electrical wire conduits along the length of said post, saidconduits having slots on the sides opposite said passage, of lesserwidth than said conduits, to enable wire feeding therethrough whileretaining the wire therein.

7. A floor-to-ceiling support post assembly for mounting service units,comprising: an elongated vertical post formed of a pair of spacedparallel panels and a pair of continuous vertical connecting cross websbetween and integral with said panels generally intermediate theirlateral edges; a passage between said panels and webs; mounting meansadjacent the edges of said panels for mounting service units thereon;said webs having enlarged offset elongated portions extending towardeach other into said passage and forming track means; a ceiling abuttingcap at the top of said post, extending down into said passage and biasedtherefrom; and a leg and foot assembly at the bottom of said post; saidleg being telescopically received in said passage; said cap having afirst inverted U-shaped member, the cross leg of which abuts the ceilingand the parallel legs of which are telescopically received in saidpassage astraddle said tracks; a second upright Ushaped member betweensaid parallel legs of said first member, and with its parallel legsnormal to said first member parallel legs; a compression spring betweensaid members biasing them apart, and a stop pin between said firstmember parallel legs and abutting the bottom of the second member tolimit the parting movement therebetween; and said second member havinghorizontally extending flanges abutting said post webs to limitinsertion of said plug into said passage.

8. A floor-to-ceiling support assembly including at least a pair of postsubassemblies each having an elongated vertical post formed of a pair ofspaced parallel panels and a pair of continuous vertical connectingcross webs between and integral with said panels spaced from theirlateral edges; a passage between said panels and webs; mounting means onthe ends of said panels for mounting service units thereon; said webshaving enlarged, offset, elongated portions extending toward each otherinto said passage and forming track means; a ceiling abutting cap at thetop of said post, extending down into said passage and biased therefrom;and a leg and foot assembly at the bottom of said post; said leg beingtelescopically received in said passage and having track receivinggrooves on opposite sides thereof facing said webs, and a cross tiemeans connecting a pair of said posts; said cross tie means including asleeve of identical cross section to said posts, and a pair of endconnectors of identical cross section to said leg, and received by andsecured to said sleeve; a cross pin through the outer end of eachconnector, and a screw through each cross pin and extending out the endof said connector into a fastener in said post.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Cousino 248 -245Maciunas S2403 Levy 248-356 Webster 52400' 8 3,043,642 7/1962 Nelson etal. 312111 3,228,646 1/1966 Hinrichs et a1. 248354 References Cited bythe Applicant UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,345,650 4/ 1944 Attwood. 2,744,7145/1956 Parke.

CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Acting Primary Examiner.

10 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Examiner.

W. D. LOULAN, Assistant Examiner.

2. A FLOOR-TO-CEILING SUPPORT POST ASSEMBLY FOR MOUNTING SERVICE UNITSCOMPRISING: AN ELONGATED VERTICAL POST FORMED OF A PAIR OF SPACEDPARALLEL PANELS AND A PAIR OF CONTINUOUS VERTICAL CONNECTING CROSS WEBSBETWEEN AND INTEGRAL WITH SAID PANELS SPACED FROM THEIR LATERAL EDGES; APASSAGE BETWEEN SAID PANELS AND WEBS; MOUNTING MEANS ON THE ENDS OF SAIDPANELS FOR MOUNTING SERVICE UNITS THEREON; SAID WEBS HAVING ENLARGED,OFFSET, ELONGATED PORTIONS EXTENDING TOWARD EACH OTHER INTO SAID PASSAGEAND FORMING TRACK MEANS; A CEILING ABUTTING CAP AT THE TOP OF SAID POST,EXTENDING DOWN INTO SAID PASSAGE AND BIASED THEREFROM; AND A LEG ANDFOOT ASSEMBLY AT THE BOTTOM OF SAID